New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-16
AsYLUx KBRPsRs HELD.
DEATH FASTENED BY cAREL sssSEss


A CoRoNrRs JURY Blanca ATTENDANTS AND Ply
sIcIANs AT WARDS ISLAND ASYLUM.
The inquest In the ease OF Samuel Roth for two
weeks an inmate Of the Insane Asylum on Wards
Island the circumstances of whose death have been
made ono of the subjects OF investigation by the State
Charities Board, was begun before Coroner Eidman
Yesterday On the part OF the asylum antnor1fes IL
ia claimed that Roth died from general parosis In
an advanced state, and that tho rib fractures and
other evdeueesof external injuries discovered on the
posnorten examination were accidentally sustained,
and no. due to brutal or improper treatment by the
asypm attendants. rr..
Dr. Alexander Traatman, medical superintendent
Of the asylum. was lac first witness He said
Roth was admitted June IL. 1887, suffering from an
cord and brain which Affected powers Of lccomoon
and speech understood that he had been discharged
from Boomingdaie Asylum rs incurable His general
health low that he sent TO the hospital ward
five days after HIS admission be was confined 10
his bed altogether requiring frequent doses Of medicine
to aay his restiessncss During the night Of june 22
bed Being unable to stand he fell to the floor and
picked up during the night on two occasions The ward
BOOK to ,ha, effect and Also ting
the physician assured that he suspicious that he
had sustained fracture Of the ribs; nevcrtheless no
days the bruse and scratches the shoulder
larger and becan iscoored showing more than on the
patient sank rapidly and died The ward physician was
present the time and again examined the region OF The
frsctre 81 the ribs In view OF the Parrish which
at that time had been In court before the body OF Roth
If there any changes from the state In which
was found at the time oil the mans death , s
be had discovered any broken ribs at the time De said
found broken rib. asked tho ward physician. with
ont telling him | had found broken rib TO examine
broken rib" He said no had carefully xamined the
spot the time OF the death and that there was
al mere touch be certainly would have found in
half hours careful search II there had been any
n..a of hrnH rib tall
found three ribs and probably fourth
could not say that the ribs were not broken after
death The body lay two days At the before
sen me ri ribs We're Sreisn before or after deh
only account for the broken ribs In the Parrish and
trying TO &c, the officers into trouble During the last
year had suspended nearly onchalf OF the attendants
ana in several of personal violence to
Some Of these men may have gone into the deadhouse
u coroner's case as had no occasion to do Within
hour the body would nave left the asylum grounds
with certificate Of death to the effect that the man died
OF general paresis The natural inference would have
been that the officers would have been accused afterward
of falling to discover any broken ribs The coffin was
closed loosely with lid In the dead house, and could
have been readily opened.
Dr. David g. Hsthernav, assistant physician at the
asylum, next testified. He said that Immediately
after Rohs death he carefully examined the body and
found no ribs fractured only snch wounds ne he
believed Jceasioned by the patient falling out OF
bed Having ccasion to enter the dead-hons after
ward. he opened Roths coffin and found the ribs
broken.
DIR. Charles r. Hoffman, physician at the hospital.
corroborated the foregoing test monv.
Charles Patraban head attendant at the hospital.
said that when he Roths bruises he asked Night
Attendant Browne why he had not entered them on
the book. Browne said he mad not then, but
after ard entered them the book.
When Browne, the night attendant, vas called. he
said that Roth rsstless all that night had fallen
out OF bod and that he bad reported that TACT TO Dr.
Murray. the night physician. who paid no attention TO
it. He said ~ think 1t Dr. Murray had attended to
my report 1t coulf have been avoided"
Dr. Murray on Icing called 6atly denied Brownies
statement adding: When saw Roth Ia bed he was
quiet, and did not doom IL necessary TO do anything
for him."
James OF1aherty the night attendant in charge OF
Roth sam that Roth tell out OF bed at least four
times that night and that nothing was done but to
put hin back again.
A juror.--why didn't you take precautions to stop
This . Al had too many patients to attend 70. AL
could do was to report It.
This finished the testimony and the jury retired In
halt hour they brought in the following verdict
That Samuel Roth's death was fastened through the
carnlessness and nehcenoy OF the night attendants
That the assistant medical stan deserves for
their Indifference In their treatment OF the patient
shown in their evidence That proper Investigation
should be made. to determine whether the help IN
sufficient and In proportion To tho number OF patients,
The coroner held Keepers Browne aud o 'Flaherty
under bail OF $500 eacn to await tho action of the
Grand Jury.